Best outdoor cinemas in Dubai

As we all know, Dubai is at its finest in the months between October and April. We can go to the beach without worrying about getting sunburnt; indulge in activities such as al fresco dining or outdoor yoga; go on long horse rides in the Arabian desert or on an 85-km cycling mission. One outdoor activity that we think is particularly suitable during this time is watching movies under the open sky. Here are MyBayut’s top picks for outdoor cinemas in Dubai where you can make the most of the fantastic weather and watch your favourite flicks under the blanket of the stars.

OUTDOOR CINEMAS IN DUBAI IN 2019

Here are the latest outdoor cinemas in Dubai that have popped up for 2019.

1. Sunset Screenings at The Dukes, West 14th Steakhouse

If you are living in the upscale Palm Jumeirah community and are looking for open-air theaters in Dubai, head to the Dukes The Palm. During October and November, the West 14th Steakhouse is offering a stunning outdoor cinema experience by the water, where you can relax on bean bags and enjoy your favourite films with the whole family. They screen two movies every Thursday making it a perfect place for a movie marathon and there are plenty of food and drink stalls at the venue. With so much on offer, this is one of the top open-air cinemas in Dubai. Take a look at their Facebook event page to know all about their upcoming movie schedule.

Location: West 14th Steakhouse at Dukes The Palm

Screening schedule: Every Thursday during October and November at West 14th Steakhouse, from 07:00 pm – 10:00 pm.

Ticket Price: Free of charge

All the screenings are on a first-come-first-served-basis

2. CINEMA ON THE SAND at Zero Gravity

Dubai’s most popular weekend hot spot, Zero Gravity is opening up its outdoor area for a cosy movie screening experience by the beach. Catch the latest blockbusters every other Sunday for just AED 50. Upon entry, you also get a voucher worth AED 50 which is redeemable on food and drink. What makes this outdoor movie screening in Dubai special from the rest? It’s got a fully stocked bar serving an interesting mix of cocktails.

Location: Zero Gravity

Screening schedule: Every other Sunday, from 08:00 pm

Ticket Price: AED 50 per person

All the screenings are on a first-come-first-served-basis

3. Nikki Beach’s Winter Outdoor Cinema

This time around, outdoor cinemas by the beach are all the rave. The ever so popular beach club, Nikki Beach is having its own open-air movie screening in Dubai for all its visitors. All you need to do is spend a minimum of AED 50 on food or drinks and you get free entry to the movie screening area by the beach.

Location: Nikki Beach Resort and Spa in Pearl Jumeirah

Screening schedule: First Tuesday of each month during the winter

Ticket Price: Spend AED 50 on food and drinks

All the screenings are on a first-come-first-served-basis

4. Pop-up outdoor cinema at Kite Beach

Spend AED 30 and catch the latest family movies at Kite Beach

Kite Beach is also having its own outdoor cinema screening for its visitors. Just spend AED 30 at Kite Beach and you’ll get free entry to their pop-up cinema! You’ll get to catch all the latest family-friendly blockbusters like Toy Story 1,2 and 3, Jumanji, Harry Potter and Kung-Fu panda. Kite beach is one of the best beaches in Dubai, so don’t miss out on this outdoor movie watching opportunity.

Location: Kite Beach

Screening schedule: 24 October – 8 November 2019, 05:00 pm onwards

Ticket Price: Spend AED 30 at Kite Beach to gain entry

All the screenings are on a first-come-first-served-basis

5. URBAN OUTDOOR CINEMA

Enjoy a movie with the stunning backdrop of Dubai Marina’s skyscrapers in the background (Image Credit: Urban Outdoor Cinema’s official website)

This Urban Outdoor Cinema in Dubai was set up by Urban Entertainment, the largest outdoor cinema equipment providers in Europe. The experience comes with headphones too, to help achieve the perfect sound. The atmosphere at the Urban Outdoor Cinema is very relaxed, with bean bags, good food, fresh popcorn and a bar only a few feet away. So far, the Urban Outdoor nave treated us to classics such as E.T, Dirty Dancing, Back to the Future, Casablanca and Gone with the Wind. Among newer films, they’ve shown Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Birdman, Avatar and Mad Max Fury Road. Did we mention that all of this comes with spectacular views of skyscrapers in the Dubai Marina area?

Location: Habtoor Grand Resort, JBR

Show dates: Every Saturday, Sunday beginning at 07:30 pm

Ticket Price: AED 75 per person only

Buy tickets through urbanoutdoorcinema.com or at the door

6. VOX OUTDOOR AT GALLERIA MALL

Like all VOX Cinemas, VOX OUTDOOR is one of the open-air cinemas in Dubai with the highest standards of technology and customer care. The main difference with the OUTDOOR, aside from the obvious one, is that you get to relax in comfortable bean bags and VIP couches with blankets and cushions the way you would at home. This outdoor cinema in Dubai is the best place to catch the absolute latest blockbusters or Oscar winners under the stars. If you’re still not impressed, the OUTDOOR’s pleasant staff will take your order and bring the food and beverage to your seat. And speaking of food, for every ticket you get a food and beverage pack with a choice of either nachos or a hot dog, salt or caramel popcorn, a soft drink and an Evian water, plus a box of Monkey Cookies. Finally, did we mention it features Dolby 7.1 surround sound?

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Location: The Rooftop at Galleria Mall, Al Wasl Rd, Next to the Post Office, Jumeirah

Show dates: Sunday to Thursday

Ticket Price: Starting from AED137 for a Standard Couch Package for 1 (inclusive of food and beverage pack and a blanket to keep you warm); AED 90 for kids package

Purchase the tickets through VOX Cinemas or at the door

7. VOX OUTDOOR AT ALOFT CITY CENTRE DEIRA

VOX Cinemas has not one but two outdoor cinemas in Dubai for the movie enthusiasts looking to watch movies outdoors. The experience at this open-air Dubai cinema is nothing less than a luxury – you get to relax in a lounge setting while gourmet cinema snacks and beverages are served directly to your seat. Did we also mention that this is one of the first licensed outdoor cinemas in Dubai? Well, it is! It’s also got its own retractable roof that can be shut to transform the cinema into an air-conditioned ambience for the summer months.

Location: Aloft City Centre Deira, Dubai

Show dates: Dependant on the movie screening

Ticket Price: Single seater AED 75, Double Seater AED 150

Purchase the tickets through VOX Cinemas or at the door. 21+ only

8. CINEMA AKIL AT ALSERKAL AVENUE

Cinema Akil has one of the most popular open movie theatres in Dubai during the winters (image Credit: Cinema Akil’s Facebook page)

Unlike the outdoor cinemas above, Cinema Akil is a completely independent platform that brings world cinema to Dubai audiences. This is outdoor viewing for those who seek more than just blockbuster movies. There are Cinema Akil screenings at the Yard, as well as an indoor option at A4 Space. While you’re visiting one or the other, you can check out various art shows and arty, “hipster” restaurants at the Alserkal Avenue itself. This vibrant community is comprised of contemporary art galleries and alternative art spaces, as well as design, media and industrial studios. Cinema Akil and Alserkal Avenue provide a much-needed alternative to Dubai’s cultural scene.

9. Other Seasonal open air cinemas in Dubai

RISE Dubai Creek Harbour is one of the highly anticipated family-friendly events happening during winter in Dubai

Lastly, a couple of options where you can find outdoor movies in Dubai include Movies Under the Stars at Wafi Mall Rooftop Gardens and the Etisalat Beach Canteen Cinema. The former is free of charge and the movies shown there are usually a good few years old. The latter is set up only during the Dubai Food Festival. Rise and Dubai Creek Harbour, which is one of the popular places to visit in winter is also known to have an open movie theatre in Dubai, during the cooler months. Dubai Parks and Resorts also hosts open-air cinema screenings in Dubai near the Irish Village pub. This is also usually free of charge, with seating available on a first-come-first-served basis.

Those were all the places to watch movies outdoors in Dubai. For movie buffs looking for a whole different movie-going experience, check out these unique cinemas in Dubai.

Have we missed any of your favourite ones? Let us know! Send us an email to mybayut@bayut.com and we’ll include it in the post.

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